The Case for a
Name Change
John F. Carney III, Ph.D., PE
November 2006
Goal of University
UMR will be one of the
top five technological
research
universities in the
United States by 2010.
Objective:
Enhance the national
reputation of the
University to
increase the value
of degree.
Are we seeking an
enhanced national
reputation with a
branch campus,
regional name?
Missouri
Public HS Graduates
1987-88 to 2001-02 (actual), 2002-03 to 2017-18 (projected)
60,000
55,000
50,000
45,000
WICHE: Knocking at the College Door, 2003
2017-18
2015-16
2013-14
2011-12
2009-10
2007-08
2005-06
2003-04
2001-02
1999-00
1997-98
1995-96
1993-94
1991-92
1989-90
1987-88
40,000
Missouri’s 2005 Student Funnel
for All Engineering Fields

Public High School Seniors Cohort:
67,074

Public High School Graduates:
57,495

All ACT Testers/College Bound:
42,705

Any Engineering Interest, all scores:
1,519

Engineering Interest, +21 comp. score:
1,028
(21 = MO average score / 50%)

Engineering Interest, +24 comp. score:
769
(24 = UM minimum for auto admission)

UMR’s Freshmen Engineering Majors
from Missouri
560
Projected Change in High School Graduates
2002-2012
+9
-11
-17
-20
-4
+7
+11
-22
-6
-11
+7
+12
+20
+4
-3
-8
-7
+53
+5
-6
-8
+2
+7
+4
-2
-4
+3 -3
-7
+3
+8
-1
-12
+6
+13
-3
-1
+2 +16
+9
+9
-10
> 20 %
+11% to +20%
0% to +10%
Decreases
NCES, 2003
-10
-10
-2
-1
0
+10
+5
+3
-10
Trends in Engineering
Potential United States Undergraduate Engineering Majors
All College Bound, ACT Tested Students Interested in Any
Engineering Field
70000
65000
60000
55000
50000
45000
(<5%)
40000
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Name Recognition Among
College-Bound Students
Outside of Missouri

Even with the increased recruiting efforts
since 2000, of the more than 1.1 million ACT
testers in 2006, only 551 non-Missouri high
school seniors sent ACT scores to UMR.

238 of the 551 out-of-state ACT scores were
from students interested in engineering.

UMR is 9th in Missouri for number of ACT
scores received from out-of-state students.
Conclusion:
Our University
needs to attract
students from all
parts of the United
States.
What does the name
University of Missouri-Rolla
tell you about the intrinsic
nature of our University?
Answer: Nothing
How does the name
University of Missouri-Rolla
differentiate us from the
other UM campuses?
Answer: It does not
What is a
technological
research
university?
Technological Research
Universities

Engineering enrollment ≥ 25%

Engineering, Business, Physical
Sciences, and Mathematics
enrollment ≥ 50%

Cutting-edge graduate research
program
master’s and Ph.D. degrees awarded
significant external research funding
80%
University of M issouri-Rolla
Average enrollment
is 6,457
70%
South Dakota School of M ines and
Technology
Colorado School of M ines
% Engineering Enrollment
60%
M ichigan Technological University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Worcester P olytechnic Institute
Rensselaer P olytechnic Institute
50%
Stevens Institute of Technology
40%
M assachusetts Institute of
Technology
Average enrollment
is 29,391
New Jersey Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
30%
Illinois Institute of Technology
P urdue University
20%
University of M ichigan-Ann Arbor Stanford University
University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign
University of California-Berkeley
10%
Carnegie M ellon
Drexel University
Texas A&M University
The University of Texas at Austin
University of Southern California
Texas Tech University
University of M issouri-Kansas City
University of M issouri-Columbia
University of M issouri-St. Louis
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
% Engineering, Business, Science & Math Enrollment
80%
90%
100%
75%
University of MissouriRolla
Average enrollment is 6,457
70%
% Engineering Enrollment
65%
South Dakota School of
Mines and Technology
Colorado School of
Mines
Michigan
Technological
University
Georgia Institute of
Technology
Worcester Polytechnic
Institute
Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute
Stevens Institute of
Technology
60%
55%
50%
45%
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
40%
New Jersey Institute
of Technology
35%
30%
California Institute of
Technology
Illinois Institute of
Technology
25%
50%
55%
60%
65%
70%
75%
80%
85%
90%
95%
% Engineering, Business, Science & Math Enrollment
100%
25%
Average enrollment is 29,391
Purdue University
Carnegie Mellon
% Engineering Enrollment
20%
University of
Michigan-Ann Arbor
Drexel University
Stanford University
Texas A&M
University of
University
Illinois at UrbanaThe University of
Champaign
Texas at Austin
University of
University of
California-Berkeley
Southern California
15%
10%
Texas Tech
University
University of
Missouri-Columbia
5%
University of
Missouri-Kansas City
University of
Missouri-St. Louis
0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
% Engineering, Business, Science & Math Enrollment
50%
60%
Should UMR
change its
name?
We will engage the entire
University community
faculty
students
alumni
staff
friends of the University
in considering this important
question.
Some possible
names which
would accurately
describe our
University...
Possible Names

Missouri University of Science and
Technology

Missouri University of Science and
Engineering

Missouri Technological University

Missouri Science and Technology University

Missouri Science and Engineering University

Other names?
Would a name
change affect our
relationship with
the University of
Missouri System?
Answer: No
Who would have
to approve a
name change for
UMR?
Answer: The
Board of Curators
Would state appropriations
and/or student fees be used
to pay for the one-time cost
associated with a possible
name change for the
University?
Answer: No
The Arts and Sciences
departments are
critically important to
the future of our
University.
Arts and Sciences

UMR hired a total of 18 new tenure track
faculty members in FY06 and FY07.
 8 tenure track hires were in Arts and Sciences,
including English, Philosophy, and Psychology
 Currently searching for tenure track faculty in
Computer Science, History, Spanish, and Technical
Communication

This years’ A&S budget has been
supplemented by over $890,000

Potential graduate programs
Interesting Fact:
Outstanding programs in Business,
Economics, English, Finance, History,
Management Information Systems,
Psychology, etc. exist at technological
research universities.
Examples:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Summary

Increasing our national reputation and prestige
will enhance the long-term value of your degree.

Our University’s goal is to be one of the top 5
technological research universities in the United
States.

We need attract more students from other parts
of the United States and the world.

It is difficult to promote our national reputation
with a branch campus, regional name that does
not describe the mission of our University.